Pope Francis: Catholics who ‘enter into logic of accusing’ are doing Satan’s work

ROME, September 13, 2018, (LifeSiteNews) – On the same day he met with a delegation from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), Pope Francis again took up the theme of the ‘Great Accuser’ during his homily in the chapel where he resides within the walls of Vatican City.

The Pope in his homily said that Christians should never enter “into gossiping,” or “into the logic of insults,” which only cause “war,” reported Vatican News.

Christian logic goes against the current of that leads one to “badmouth enemies or those who are of a different party,” and follows instead the “folly of the Cross.”

“Only the merciful are like God the Father. ‘Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.’ This is the path, the path that goes against the spirit of the world, that thinks differently, that does not accuse others. Because among us is the ‘Great Accuser,’ the one who is always going about to accuse us before God, to destroy. Satan: he is the ‘Great Accuser.’ And when I enter into this logic of accusing, of cursing, seeking to do evil to others, I enter into the logic of the ‘Great Accuser’ who is the ‘Destroyer,’ who does not know the word mercy, does not know, has never lived it,” he said

“Pope at Mass today again referred to the Great Accuser who is ‘among us,” noted Vatican correspondent Edward Pentin via Twitter. “You cannot do it to the other. You cannot enter into the logic of the accuser. ‘But Father, I have to accuse.’ Yes, accuse yourself. You do well. For the other, only mercy...”

Pope at Mass today again referred to the Great Accuser who is “among us.”

“You cannot do it to the other. You cannot enter into the logic of the accuser. ‘But Father, I have to accuse.’ Yes, accuse yourself. You do well. For the other, only mercy...” https://t.co/3BKN6sXzQI

Today the Pope met with a small group from the USCCB to discuss the clergy sex-abuse scandal in the United States, with a focus on the damage done by disgraced now ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

The group included USCCB President Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the head of Pope Francis’ papal Commission for the Protection of Minors, and Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“In these times, it seems like the 'Great Accuser' has been unchained and is attacking bishops,” said Pope Francis in a homily today as reported by Vatican News. “True, we are all sinners, we bishops. He tries to uncover the sins, so they are visible in order to scandalize the people,” he added.

Reaction came quickly to the Pope’s words, with many saying that it sounded like the Pope was suggesting that uncovering the sins of a bishop, such as abuse, was somehow the work of the devil.

In that sense, some viewed the Pontiff as himself taking the role of the accuser, in order to silence those critical of members of his hierarchy and to hush discussion about clergy sex abuse.